Merry Christmas!!

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Terry, Lara and Maxwell

Christmas Tree Hunting

Hi Everybody!!

Mommy is letting me tell you all about our hunt for the perfect Christmas Tree! She meant to tell you all about it the day after but she has been very busy. Anyway, we drove out to Enumclaw and up into Greenwater. It was a loooooong drive. I was ready for it to be over when daddy finally stopped at this big hill side. There was snow everywhere, but it was raining. They bundled me up and off we went. Daddy says I was laughing the entire time. Throwing my head back and catching rain on my tongue. They went back and forth all over the hillside until finally daddy shouted about finding the perfect tree. By then we were all soaked and it was starting to get cold, but it was lots of fun!

I know you can't really tell by the picture but it is a great tree. I am doing an okay job of not touching and grabbing at all the ornaments and lights.

After we were done on the mountain we drove into Greenwater and stopped at one of Daddys favorite places. The Naches Tavern. We had a late lunch and the waitress let me play on the piano. I had so much fun walking around and checking things out. What a great place! Mommy and daddy say that we will go back there every year when we get our tree.

So that is all for now. Mommy will post some pictures after some one named Santa comes to visit. I can't wait to meet him!

Love to everybody,

Maxer

Zoomazium day with Jake

We finally got to meet up with Bridger and "Jake the Snake!" We had a great time at Zoomazium at the Woodland Park Zoo. They have an area for toddlers to climb and explore, separate from the bigger kids. We really, actually went to hear the storytime story. They bring out a live animal for the kids to pet. On the day we went the story was about an armadillo. "Edward the armadillo," was interesting looking and Max and I got to pet him. Weird creature! Max showed absolutely no fear. I am so proud. After the story we stayed and played until the boys hit the proverbial wall. We are going to try to get together more often. Eventually the boys will actually notice and play with one another.

I think the boys had a good time. Max was asleep before we even left the parking lot. We are going back there for sure. Terry really wants to check out the animal storytime.

I thought I would post another picture of Max helping me in the kitchen. He really just makes a great big mess and I spend the time carefully stepping around him until dinners ready.

I also end up having to wash everything before and after I cook. I can't stop him though, he obviously is enjoying himself.

Here are some great pictures of how we spend our day. The first is Max playing with his legos. Mostly I just build stuff and he destroys it. It is great for my ego!

His new favorite game is a cross between between peek a boo and hide and seek. He walks behind me and pats my back. Then he sneaks around to one side until I peak around and say boo. He laughs his tale off. We do this for about 10 minutes until he is laughing so hard he is breathless and crawling around me.

This week we went to Molbak's for our Christmas picture with Santa. We didn't get to see everybody that we wanted to but we will go back after the holidays and make sure to say hello to all of my peeps. I do miss each and everyone of you.  Anyway, here are some pictures of Max checking things out. I won't post our Christmas picture until afterwards. I want it to be a suprise.

Christmas this year should be great. I am so excited to see what Max thinks of it all. We are going to go get our tree on Sunday. We like to hike in the mountains and find the perfect one. I am hoping that we won't have to bolt it down in order to keep Max from climbing up! So far he is doing really well with the word, "NO!" Let's hope the decorated tree isn't to much for him.

Bathtub Baby and Snow Day

Well, we have had a crazy few weeks. I have spent the majority of my time with Max and studying food. Max and I have become regulars at the library for storytime, though he doesn't really sit still the whole time. It is fun getting out with him and doing things during the day other then errands. He really enjoys walking a lot more and insists on pushing the stroller home during our morning walk. We are up to 2 full blocks. Sometimes he gets distracted by the trucks on the road, or a neighborhood dog but mostly he puts his head down and pushes home like he has a job to do. It is so cute! I will try to take a picture next time.

Right now there is so much snow and ice on the sidewalk that we aren't doing very much walking lately. It has been so cold, windy, snowy and icy. Max looks so cute in his new winter jacket and hat. I couldn't resist getting him some little snow boots too!

We even made a snow angel! He wasn't much of a participant. I just laid him down and moved his arms and legs. As soon as his hand touched the snow he got scared and cried, not sure why, maybe it was just to cold. I opted not to get gloves because he kept pulling them off in the store and the jacket is still big enough to cover all but the finger tips.

You can just make out the outline of the wings!

Terry is King of the Bathtub with Max and he had a great idea to let Max practice using a big boy cup in the bathtub. It has worked really well so far. There are hardly any drips or spills. We try to let him have a cup when he eats also, but we only put a very little bit of water in it. I thought I would post some super cute naked baby butt pictures. Who can resist? This was the other night, daddy likes to let Max walk around naked a little bit before the bath to "air out his parts."

Look! No Drips!!

On the days when it has been ugly and rainy Max and I hang out at home and bake or cook. He mostly just plays in the cabinets at my feet while I make daddies favorite Banana Chocolate Chip Bread. Now is the time to also make lots of hearty soups. Max is a really good at helping me get stuff together.

Absolutely delicious!!

Max is also having a great time at his new babysitters. He has become Ava's new play thing. She calls him her husband. It is so cute. They also play dress up. Ava is really good at dress up, she has lots of cool clothes, tiaras and jewels to choose from. Here are a couple of great pictures.

He even looks like he is enjoying it a little. Thankfully for him he is only subjected to the tutu for a few hours a week. Ava also has cool other toys like a play kitchen and a shopping cart. Max pushes that thing around all over the house. But his most favorite toy is a silicone baster. Appearantly he likes to brush his hair with it.

So things are going well all around, with my new job, a new babysitter, and the transition to a night shift. I am super excited for what this next year is going to bring for us and I am thankful for all of the opportunities I now have to spend with my son.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Happy Halloween and more!!

So this year we went back to Jubilee Farms for your pumpkins for Halloween. Terry and I have been going there for 3 years and we love it. They have tractor rides out to the fields and a pumpkin trebuchet. They also have chickens and pigs. We had to bundle up Max because it was a very chilly day. We tried the suit that Gramma bought him when he was a baby and it just barely fit. In this picture he looks just like the Gingerbread Boy.

In the next pictures we are at the farm. The one with daddy is before we got on the tractor. The one with me is on the tractor and you can tell he is experienceing a little sensory overload. It was pretty cute.

We decided to dress up Max up as a carpenter for Halloween. Gramma got him a great tool kit for his birthday and we used the tools and a pair of overalls with all the holders to make it work. He looked really cute but everybody was calling him "Builder Bob."

I can't believe how big he is getting. Everyday something new happens. Today we made an inaugural walk with real shoes. We have been practicing inside, a little at a time, with them and he never seemed very thrilled to have them on. But we actually walked to several houses to trick or treat, in our neighborhood. All told we probably clocked about 1/4 mile. He didn't want to stop. Every time we picked him up he squirmed to be put back down. I was so proud of him, he walked like such a champ!

He also continues to do all sorts of big boy stunts. Notice his stance on the Kawasaki.

I am so glad we have medical insurance for him. That is all I can say!!

So here is my good news. I am no longer at Molbak's! We have decided that I need to stay at home with Max. It was very hard to leave the friends and family that I made working there for 3 and a half years, but I don't regret it at all. The decision was really cemented a couple of weeks ago when we were getting Max ready for bed and we sat him on the bathroom counter to brush his teeth. He has been watching me brush my teeth every morning since he was born and I guess something in him remembered.

He actually does a really good job by himself, but we help him out to make sure he is actually hitting all of his teeth, now that there are so many of them.

It is stuff like this and knowing that he is such a sponge that made us realize I needed to be at home with him filling up his brain.

I am going to start working a couple of nights a week at The Cheesecake Factory, in Bellevue. I get to hang out at home for another week before I start my training and then usually Terry will be home shortly before or shortly after I leave for work. We have a friend that is going to watch Max for the hour or so inbetween. I am so excited about this new opportunity, the possibility of making more money and getting to spend more time with my little man. It has been a real blessing that things worked out the way that they did.

The last pictures that I want to post are two of the cutest so far. Misty has really come a long way to being so tolerant of Max and the pulling, pinching, squeezing and grabbing that he does.

She obviously doesn't look thrilled, but she is tolerating him and that is all we can ask for! The last picture is the best. Max has been going over to Aunt Joyce and Uncle Sam's house for the last month on Wednesday and Thursday, while I finished work. You might remember their dog, Hana. She has really mellowed out having Max there regularly and this picture really shows it. A boy and a dog...

...we can't wait to get Max his own dog!

All Boy!!

So, last week, after weeks of saying Max needed a haircut, I did it, again. I remember the first two times it being alot easier. I don't remember him moving around so much and being so squirmy. Anyway, it is finally done. I am always so surprised at how he looks like a big boy afterward. No longer my little Boobanowski. I am also always worried that he will look funny, cause it's not professional. Daddy and Aunty Joyce both have approved so I guess he doesn't look to bad. I will let you be the judge.

Terry tells me that his dad used to say that "his ears need to be lowered," when he was a kid, so that is what I did. I guess it turned out pretty good. Afterward he was covered in hair and I had to strip him down to shake the clothes, not him, outside. I let him strut around the house, chewing on the comb while I cleaned up. The next picture is very reminescent of Risky Business. Only Maxwell is much, much cuter the Tom Cruise.

Max has also decided he is going to start climbing stuff. As you can see in the photo above, note the placement of his foot...on the chair rung...

This is Maxwell with both feet on the chair rung. A couple of days ago he had managed to climb on to the seat of the chair and started shouting proudly declaring his fete. I debated taking a picture and in a moment of panic, I just ran to him and pulled him off. He was not happy!! You can probably picture it, using the photo above, but just imagine him standing on the seat of the chair!!! Really!!!

Some of you may recall that we have been having difficulties with our cat keeping us up all night with her incessant yowling. Well, thanks to a friend of mine at work, things are much, much better. We have created a little nook downstairs in the garage for her in a very large dog kennel. She has a bed, food, water and a litter box. I lined it top to bottom with cardboard and put a rug on the floor and a blanket over the entire thing so it is snuggly warm inside. We put her in it at night and bring her up during the day. She has even become a much more social cat and even allows Maxwell to push, pull, grab and squeeze her without complaint. When she is upstairs with us, she is actually with us, instead of being an under the bed kitty. It's great!

This is Max and Misty yesterday. Terry has some other pictures of Max with her, but you can't actually see her cause Max is laying on top of her. What a turn around for the cat. She is sitting next to my right now as I type this. Who knew that exile would make her come around and be more social?? She even hangs out in Max's toy shelf.

So, that is all for now. I will have super, duper, uber good news on my next post, so stay tuned.

Max Makes An Appearance

Hi Everyone,

Mommy is letting me interupt her blog to post a really silly picture of me. I have been staying with my god parents, Aunt Joyce and Uncle Sam while mommy goes to work. You guyes might remember them, they have my best doggie friend Hana. Anyway, today at Aunty Joyce's she thought she would have a little fun and scare the mommy. Little did she know, mommy thought it was pretty funny. 

Uncle Sam and daddy thought it was really funny too!! Don't I look cute? Maybe this is just what mommy needs to keep me in line now that I am walking.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hello to everyone. I hope that you all are enjoying her blog and the pictures of me.

Love to everybody,

Maxer

We have lift off!!!

Well sports fans, the Maxer has taken his first steps!! We did get it on video, at least the second pass anyway. Terry and I have been working on him for weeks now. Ever since the great Jake the Snake took his first steps. I couldn't let Maxwell fall to far behind. We have been practicing everyday. He just wasn't ready. Until now!

The first pass was about 8 or 9 actual steps. The second pass, shown above, was slightly less walking and alot of us encouraging. The fun has just begun! I can't believe our little boy finally took his first steps. It was the coolest thing to watch. The excitement on his face was awesome. I am still in a little bit of shock. As soon as we get some more video we will post it.

This Just In...

The FAA has just put out a notification that they do not condone double-fisted drinking in their pilots. When asked to comment, Captain Elmo claims, "they were just going to grandmas" and that Maxwell is "his favorite co-pilot." Though the skies were a little turbulent, they came in for a smooth landing and no one was injured.

Ah-ha Moment

Just now, while I was snuggling Max before his nap, I had the most amazing ah-ha moment. Sitting there, looking down at his face and thinking, I am someones mommy. I will always be Maxwell's mommy and that is the most important thing to remember. His health, happiness and security are my only priority. I have had a pretty rough week, this last week, with some pretty low lows and some pretty good highs, but I have to keep in mind that Max is the most important thing in the world. The decisions that I make, that we make as a family, are all centered around what is best for Max. Looking at his sleeping face, I cried and made a promise to be the best mommy I could. How could anyone do any less when they look into the face of their child.

New Foods

These last two weeks have been full of firsts and lots of seconds. No, Max is not walking yet. However, I think it should be coming along any time now. Max is certainly adding more silliness to his personality. He has become quite the talker, jibberish of course, but super cute all the same. He keeps up a non-stop dialogue with anyone who will listen and boy does he ever flirt!! He is better at it then I ever was. He lowers his head a little and looks up at you with a smile and those pretty blue eyes. I don't even want to think about the girls that will be calling the house at all hours when he gets older.

 Here is a great self portrait, by the daddy, of my two bestest boyes. Nope, no resemblance there!

This is a great picture, for Uncle Loren, Uncle Dave, Uncle Neighbor Mike, and daddy. Maxwell Jones the future lead singer of their rock band. Of course, by the time he is aloud into the club, they will be getting senior citizen discounts. Who knows, maybe he will start rocking out early. He totally grooves when daddy plays the guitar. When Uncle Neighbor Mike comes over, Max bobs his head to Rush with him and daddy.

We tried scarmbled eggs for the first time. He really seemed to like them with a little salt and some of mommies dried chives from the garden. He actually fed himself. He even had little pieces of buttered toast. But it gets better...

PIZZA!!! It seemed like forever since we splurged and got a pizza. I had a really crazy busy day at work and daddy was helping some friends build a small school house on Saturday and neither one of us wanted to cook so Max got to try his first pizza. And what do you know...he liked it. Now if we can just get him to like chocolate, then we know he is really your kid. He also played his first game of chew and show.

Here is where the personality comes in. We did not put that sippy cup on his head. He did! He also likes to put it behind his back, next to him in the seat, where ever. What a goofball!

Daddy has been asking me to give Max's hair a trim and I just never seem to have the time. But as you can see by this Maxhawk, his hair is getting pretty long and it is really thick to. I have already saved some from his first haircut for his baby book, but I feel like I should be saving all of it. Weird, I know. I'll get over it.

This picture was a couple of nights later. We played with Aunty Dixie's birthday gift. Soapy crayons!! I was shocked that he actually colored with them and did not try to eat them right away. I think daddy was having a little fun also. Thanks Aunty Dixie! We still have 5 whole ones left to break!

Good thing are coming around the corner everyday! Max keeps getting bigger, more teeth and happier. We keep falling more and more in love with him. I can't even remember my life without him. Okay, maybe the sleeping in late and lying in bed reading a book. Soon Max will be right there next to us doing the same thing. By then I really will have forgotten.